Word Origin & History

abusive 1530s (in abusively), originally "improper," from Fr. abusif (fem. abusive), from L. abusivus, from abusus, pp. of abuti (see abuse). Meaning "full of abuse" is from 1580s. Abuseful was used 17c., and Shakespeare has abusious ("Taming of the Shrew," 1594).